Oman has allocated OMR314.9 ($817.9m) for road projects in the state budget for 2012.

The government has allocated OMR240m ($623.3m) for the Sur-Bidbid dual road, of which OMR60m ($155.8m) is earmarked from 2012 budget.

Other major road projects to be implemented in 2012 include the OMR250m ($649m) Al Batinah Expressway, of which OMR62.5m ($162.3m) will be allocated from 2012 budget.

The consultative studies of the Al Batinah Expressway project are in the final stages and the government is expected to announce the tender of the first phase which starts from Al Naseem to the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq, while the second phase will continue to the Wilayat of Shinas.

Another OMR10m ($25.9m) is allocated for Mahdha-Al Rawda dual road costing OMR40m ($103.8m).

The road projects are out of the 681 development projects worth OMR1.5bn ($3.9bn) which the government has announced to start in 2012.

The 2012 budget draft report has been approved by the Shura Council.